Ways to Fan the Flame of Your Faith

· Honor the Sabbath so that you can fall in love with God and with the world again

· Attend a service of worship each week where you will hear and be fed by God’s Word
· Have a quiet time (or devotions) at some point each day
· Participate in a small group or Sunday school class for spiritual nourishment, fellowship, and prayer
· Trust God by giving sacrificially in some specific area of your life for the sake of others
· Let Christ inform the way you behave at work, home, school, and in all other relationships
· Take time to learn about your specific gifts, talents and passions, and seek to use them more and more in your life for the sake of others
· Seek to be a witness of Jesus Christ and the good news by being a person of hope, faith, and love and by seeking to invite others into God’s great plans for their life and the world
· Attend retreats and conferences, read books, enjoy art and culture, and listen to tapes or podcasts that help you grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ
· Seek out and meet with a spiritual mentor, advisor or counselor
· Take time monthly for silence and reflection

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Acts 2:42-47 - Questions for Reflection & Study

This past Sunday, we took a look at Luke's first summary passage in the story of Acts: chapter 2, verses 42-47. Here, Luke is presenting a billboard of what the Church looks like at its best. He is trying to convince Theophilus that Christianity is worth his attention. The early Church captures what all of us are looking for, whether we know it or not. This is a close community that truly cares for one another, where everyone truly is seen as a brother and sister, and where no one person is considered more or less important as the other. Needs are being met. There is joy in their fellowship. Take a moment to think about a time in your life when you experienced the joy and blessing of a deep, loving community? Where was it, and what made this community so different? What role did you play in this community? Luke tells us the disciples "devoted themselves" to four essential practices. The Greek word for "devoted" is one that is often used in t

Acts 5:1-11 - Questions for reflection & prayer

This past Sunday we looked at one of the more unsettling stories in the Book of Acts : the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. As shared by Luke, this couple sold a piece of land and then proceeded to bring only a portion of the profit to the apostles - laying it at their feet for the good of the community. However, what appeared to be their grave mistake (pun intended) was their collusion in claiming to have brought all the proceeds to the apostles when - in fact - they were keeping some back for themselves. Peter announces first to Ananias the Lord's judgment, followed by a similar verdict being handed down to Sapphira a short time later. Seen by itself, this is a strange story, but it begins to make more sense when we see it as "part of the whole." The story of Ananias and Sapphira comes right after we hear once again of the community's unity and generosity, including their willingness to share their own goods and resources to take care of one another (ch. 4).

Listening to Jesus

In recent years, two scenes from the Gospels keep grabbing my attention: Jesus' baptism and Jesus' transfiguration. In both instances God the Father speaks to Jesus or about Jesus (it may be the only time we hear God the Father speaking directly about Jesus). In both cases, God proclaims (and claims) Jesus as God's very own, "Beloved" Son. God the Father further announces that he is "well pleased" with Jesus. On the second occasion - the Transfiguration - God goes on to command us (the disciples) to "Listen to him." Listen to Jesus. It seems like such a fundamental and important part of what it means to be a Christian. The very idea of us being Christians is that we are taking our cues and directions from Jesus - that he is both our Lord and our Teacher. And, yet, I have noticed within myself that I don't really do this that often. Yes, even pastors struggle with this. It is much easier to be swayed by the many other voices that we

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